Not breezy reading, but not intimidating either, once you see the pattern of countries and people changing sides all the time, from 324 to 1981.One sidelight: the inter-marrying royal families of Europe were breeding grounds for spare kings and royal consorts, wherever needed, and Greece got its share, for better and worse. Another: intermural warfare within the Christian church was often more intense than enmity with Islam, or anyone else. The English author fought with the Greek resistance agaNot breezy reading, but not intimidating either, once you see the pattern of countries and people changing sides all the time, from 324 to 1981.One sidelight: the inter-marrying royal families of Europe were breeding grounds for spare kings and royal consorts, wherever needed, and Greece got its share, for better and worse. Another: intermural warfare within the Christian church was often more intense than enmity with Islam, or anyone else. The English author fought with the Greek resistance against Hitler,but you have to Google him to find that out. A very even-handed historian and a lively writer. (Greece still has problems and so do the religions.)...more